India sends more students to US than any other country this year; Retains its position as top sender

Highlighting the release of the latest Open Doors Report, U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti in New Delhi said India retained its position as the top sender of international graduate students for the second year, with nearly 197,000 students—a 19 percent increase from last year

Hyderabad: For the first time since 2009, India sent more students to the United States than any other country. More than 3,30,000 Indians pursued higher education in the United States in 2023/2024, a 23 percent increase over the prior year.

Highlighting the release of the latest Open Doors Report, U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti in New Delhi said India retained its position as the top sender of international graduate students for the second year, with nearly 197,000 students—a 19 percent increase from last year.

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Also, the number of Indian students in OPT programs surged by 41 percent to 97,556, reinforcing India’s role as a leading source of skilled professionals in the U.S. The undergraduate enrollments from India rose by 13 percent, reaching over 36,000 students.

These increases underscore India’s upward trajectory in U.S. higher education over the past two years, fueled by a strong interest in advanced academic and professional opportunities, he said.

This year’s Open Doors Report also shows a 300 percent increase in American students choosing India as a study abroad destination. The number of Americans studying in India rose from 300 to 1,300 in 2022/2023.

United States and India’s longstanding relationship in the field of education is now expanding with the launch of the new ‘Women in STEMM Fellowship’ (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine), a partnership between John Hopkins University Gupta-Klinsky India Institute and the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Speaking at the STEMM launch event, Ambassador Garcetti said, “This event is a reminder of the global importance of education, collaboration, and gender equity in shaping the future of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM).”

Johns Hopkins University President Ronald J. Daniels added, “The “Women in STEMM Fellowship”, is designed to help Indian women scientists gain critical research skills, access mentors, and connect with global networks.”